A group of Southeast Asian students taking the Cape Kidnappers tractor trip, from left, Janette Odell from EIT, Munkhjargal Nergui (Mongolia), Manh Hung Do (Vietnam), Joanita Bendita da Costa Jong (Timor Leste) and EIT

EIT recently welcomed 36 Southeast Asian government officials onto campus– a group in Hawke’s Bay to hone their English language skills and learn more about the region’s industries and attractions.

Coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the English language training scheme ELTO was established by the New Zealand Government 20 years ago.

Since then, more than 1000 students from South East Asian countries have completed the programme, dividing their study experience between Wellington, where they attend Victoria University, and EIT in Hawke’s Bay or NMIT in Nelson.

Head of School Tourism and Travel and the English Language Centre at EIT, Jenny Robertson says the scheme has grown, with twice as many high-level government officials at EIT this year compared to the 2012 group.   The number of countries involved has also increased to encompass Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Timor Leste, Mongolia and Vietnam.

The officials are being hosted by homestay families living close to EIT in Taradale and Greenmeadows.